http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_II_of_ScotlandCináed mac Maíl Coluim,
[1] anglicised as
Kenneth II, and nicknamed
An Fionnghalach, "The Fratricide"
[2] was
King of Scotland . The son of
Malcolm I , he succeeded
King Cuilén on the latter's death at the hands of
Amdarch of Strathclyde in 971.
The
Chronicle of the Kings of Alba was compiled in Kenneth's reign, but many of the place names mentioned are entirely corrupt, if not fictitious.
[3] Whatever the reality, the Chronicle states that "[h]e immediately plundered [
Strathclyde] in part. Kenneth's infantry were slain with very great slaughter in Moin Uacoruar." The Chronicle further states that Kenneth plundered
Northumbria three times, first as far as Stainmore, then to Cluiam and lastly to the
River Dee by
Chester. These raids may belong to around 980, when the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records attacks on
Cheshire.
[4]In 973, the
Chronicle of Melrose reports that Kenneth, with
Máel Coluim I , the
King of Strathclyde, "Maccus, king of very many islands" ,
King of Mann and the Isles) and other kings,
Welsh and
Norse, came to
Chester to acknowledge the overlordship of the English king
Edgar the Peaceable.
[5] It may be that Edgar here regulated the frontier between the southern lands of the kingdom of Alba and the northern lands of his English kingdom.
Cumbria was English, the western frontier lay on the
Solway. In the east, the frontier lay somewhere in later
Lothian, south of
Edinburgh.
[6]The
Annals of Tigernach, in an aside, name three of the
Mormaers of Alba in Kenneth's reign in entry in 976: Cellach mac Fíndgaine, Cellach mac Baireda and Donnchad mac Morgaínd. The third of these, if not an error for Domnall mac Morgaínd, is very likely a brother of Domnall, and thus the
Mormaer of Moray. The Mormaerdoms or kingdoms ruled by the two Cellachs cannot be identified.
The feud which had persisted since the death of
King Indulf between his descendants and Kenneth's family persisted. In 977 the
Annals of Ulster report that "Amlaíb mac Iduilb [
Amlaíb, son of Indulf], King of Scotland, was killed by Cináed mac Domnaill." The Annals of Tigernach give the correct name of Amlaíb's killer: Cináed mac Maíl Coluim, or Kenneth II. Thus, even if only for a short time, Kenneth had been overthrown by the brother of the previous king.
[7]Adam of Bremen tells that
Sweyn Forkbeard found exile in Scotland at this time, but whether this was with Kenneth, or one of the other kings in Scotland, is unknown. Also at this time,
Njal's Saga, the
Orkneyinga Saga and other sources recount wars between "the Scots" and the Northmen, but these are more probably wars between
Sigurd Hlodvisson,
Earl of Orkney, and the Mormaers, or Kings, of Moray.
[8]The Chronicle says that Kenneth founded a great monastery at
Brechin.
Kenneth was killed in 995, the Annals of Ulster say "by deceit" and the Annals of Tigernach say "by his subjects". Some later sources, such as the
Chronicle of Melrose,
John of Fordun and
Andrew of Wyntoun provide more details, accurately or not. The simplest account is that he was killed by his own men in
Fettercairn, through the treachery of
Finnguala , daughter of
Cuncar,
Mormaer of Angus, in revenge for the killing of her only son.
[9]The
Prophecy of Berchán adds little to our knowledge, except that it names Kenneth "the kinslayer", and states he died in
Strathmore.
[10]Kenneth's son
Malcolm II was later king of Alba. Kenneth may have had a second son, named either Dúngal or Gille Coemgáin.
[11] Sources differ as to whether
Boite mac Cináeda should be counted a son of Kenneth II or of Kenneth III .
[12]